The attackers, however, suffered even heavier losses.
Out of the nearly sixty who attacked, over thirty had already died. It's likely these assailants never expected these bodyguards to be so formidable.
This was even with the attackers having the advantage in numbers. Considering their familiarity with the terrain and other factors, they had indeed bitten off more than they could chew tonight.
These attackers weren't from any major power, just a disorganized local outfit. Their weapons weren't sophisticated either, mostly discarded junk.
Furthermore, they were a motley crew. To put it nicely, they were an "organization," but in reality, they were just a bunch of local thugs and ruffians.
There was no way these individuals could match the elite bodyguards. Soon, only sporadic gunfire could be heard from outside, and within a short while, the sounds of combat ceased entirely.
After the battle concluded, a bodyguard entered to inform Ning Beichen that they needed to relocate their camp immediately as the area was no longer safe.
Ning Beichen and Liu Yilin left the tent and were met with a strong smell of blood. Many bodyguards were injured, being bandaged and treated.
Although these attackers weren't particularly skilled, they compensated with sheer numbers, outnumbering the bodyguards several times over. In a chaotic brawl, even a master can be overwhelmed. Out of the twenty elite bodyguards, five or six were hit by bullets, and tragically, two died.
"Ning Beichen..."
Seeing the scene, Liu Yilin clutched Ning Beichen's hand, her voice trembling with an inability to find words.
"It's alright. This is their line of work."
Ning Beichen remained calm. Being elite didn't mean they were immune to death.
From a micro perspective, the loss of two lives was indeed heartbreaking. However, one must remember that the attackers had left over forty bodies behind tonight.
If you fear death, don't enter this profession. If you choose to do so, be prepared for its consequences.
"They died protecting me. I feel terribly guilty."
Liu Yilin was, after all, a kind-hearted girl who couldn't bear to witness such things, unlike Ning Beichen's detached demeanor.
"They have high-value insurance policies. If they unfortunately perish, not only will their families receive substantial compensation, but Fengchao will also provide a considerable amount of financial support."
"Boss, they aren't children anymore. Many are older than you and understand the implications. Perhaps one day, I'll meet the same fate. So, Boss, you don't need to feel guilty, because this was their choice."
Ning Beichen explained, not wanting her to develop any lingering trauma.
Liu Yilin, who had been worried about the bodyguards, became immediately anxious upon hearing Ning Beichen say that he too might meet the same fate one day.
"Ning Beichen, I forbid you from doing anything so dangerous! If you need money, I'll give it to you."
Liu Yilin blurted out without thinking.
"Boss, are you saying... you want to support me?"
Ning Beichen looked utterly dumbfounded.
"I... I didn't mean that. I meant, don't do anything so dangerous."
Liu Yilin hastily explained, flustered, wondering what had possessed her to say such a thing.
"Boss, I'll try my best."
Ning Beichen appeared relieved, which immediately made Liu Yilin's temper flare.
What was the meaning of that look? Did she seem that terrifying?
Angrily, Liu Yilin shot him a dirty look, leaving Ning Beichen utterly bewildered. They had been fine moments ago, and now she had turned on him.
The Iceberg Woman, he scoffed inwardly.
Ning Beichen ignored her and went to check on the injured bodyguards.
Fortunately, apart from one who was seriously wounded, the others sustained only superficial injuries. After bandaging and stopping the bleeding, they were out of danger.
The condition of the more severely injured individual, however, was dire. After an examination, they concluded he had no hope of survival. Seeing this, a fellow bodyguard retrieved a weapon, seemingly intending to help him pass on peacefully.
"Wait, let me take a look."
Ning Beichen hurried over and said.
"Mr. Ning, his injuries are too severe. He won't survive even if taken to a hospital. Rather than suffer, it's better to let him go peacefully."
The companion said.
It wasn't that they were cold-hearted or malicious, but they understood that such injuries were beyond saving and would only prolong his agony. It was better to end his suffering now.
If they were in the same situation, they would have wished for the same. For those who lived on the edge of a blade, death wasn't so terrifying.
"It's alright, I know a little medicine. Let me see if he can be saved."
Ning Beichen told them.
The men immediately stepped aside. If their comrade could be saved, they wouldn't bear to take his life.
Ning Beichen crouched down to examine the bodyguard. He had been shot three times. One bullet had struck his femoral artery, and another had hit near his heart.
It was no wonder his companions had decided to give up on him after deliberation; such wounds were almost invariably fatal.
If there had been a hospital nearby, there might have been a chance of saving him.
But there was no hospital here.
Even if there was one, it would be a very rudimentary facility.
Only by transporting him to a major city hospital for emergency treatment might there be a sliver of hope for survival, and even then, it would be just that—a sliver.
However, what his companions had deemed unsalvageable, Ning Beichen believed might not be.
After assessing the wounds, Ning Beichen confidently stated, "He's not dead yet. Give me a few minutes."
Ning Beichen opened his case, taking out some medicine and a sharp knife.
A few minutes later, Ning Beichen had removed the bullets from the bodyguard's body and applied medication. The entire process took no more than seven or eight minutes.
"Alright, he won't die for now. Once we reach our destination, you can take him to a hospital when conditions permit."
Ning Beichen said to them.
The bodyguards were astonished. They couldn't believe that Ning Beichen could handle such severe injuries in just a few minutes, as if he were Hua Tuo himself.
Ning Beichen stood up and washed the blood from his hands. It was still early evening. Suddenly, Ning Beichen had an idea and turned back to them, saying,
"There's no need to transfer tonight. Relocating might not be safe. Let's wait here until dawn. They likely won't dare to come back."
The bodyguards exchanged glances, conferred, and then nodded. Ning Beichen's reasoning made sense.
Moving now might not guarantee safety, and many of them were injured and needed rest.